Use Booster Seats Safely

As of July 1, 2011 child must remain in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old unless they are already 4 feet 9 inches tall.

Booster seats are not car seats. They are positioning devices that boost a child up so that adult lap and shoulder belt systems fit properly and provide protection. Children who are not yet both four years of age and weigh at least 40 pounds are not yet ready for a booster set. Children should remain in a booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall.

There are two basic types of booster seats:

High-back booster seats are required if the back of the vehicle seat does not provide protection behind the child’s head to at least the top of the ear.

Backless booster seats can be used as long as the vehicle seat provides head protection to the top of the child’s ear.

Booster seats should be:

used only for children who are both four years of age and weight at least 40 pounds. Use a car seat until then.

used with children until they are approximately 4 foot 9 inches (57 inches) tall

used only in backseats for children 12 and younger

secured with a lap and shoulder belt

used with the lap belt positioned low on the hips or upper thighs

used with the shoulder belt positioned across the middle of the shoulder. Some seats come with an adjuster to help position the shoulder strap. See instructions for proper use of this adjuster.